10 Minute Spaghetti Carbonara

Although I’m a good cook (and a modest one, eh?) I’m pretty lazy when it comes to the kitchen. Unless I’ve got a slow Saturday afternoon of culinary processes planned, speed is of the essence. When it comes to cooking I like to get in, get out and get fed: quick food, without compromising on taste.

Which is why I think it’s important to spend money on quality tools in the kitchen that make speedy cooking achievable. A KitchenAid, Global Knives… you name them, I use (and love) them.

Microplane is one such kitchen genius brand that makes my life that much easier.

I was given my first Microplane grater as a Christmas present by my dad, the only chef I know who’s almost as good as me, and I was a bit disappointed at first. Hello Dad, it’s Christmas, where’s my Jo Malone loot?!

He had the last laugh though, and promised me I’d be thrilled as soon as I got over myself and had a go with my new tool, and he was right: my Microplane soon became a kitchen staple.

Made in the USA, Microplane blades are photo-etched and ultra-effective (i.e. watch those fingers!). The sharpest tools around, they grate with absolutely no effort and optimal results, with the brand having 50 years’ experience in photo-etching technology.

I use mine in various recipes almost every day, so I was thrilled when Microplane sent me an few more from their range to have a go with (scroll down to win them yourself!).

As a garlic lover I generally eat at least one clove a day in one form or another, and using a Microplane saves so much hassle (and stinking fingers): I used to chop my garlic which was always a nightmare, leaving big chunks of it in my food where I got bored of chopping.

They’re also brilliant for cheese grating and take up zero dishwashing room – the massive A graters being so cumbersome and ineffective – as well as for citrus fruits and shaved chocolate.

Microplane (available at John Lewis or Steamer) asked me to use their range of graters to create one of my favourite family recipes so I chose the quickest that I whip up on a regular basis for me and the kiddos: the 10 Minute Spaghetti Carbonara.

This really is the speediest family meal, taking just as long as it takes to fry up some bacon. I save even more time using my Microplane for the cheese and garlic, and speed up the process even further by buying fresh over dried pasta.

There’s no cream in this recipe as that isn’t an ingredient of the authentic Italian recipe, but the egg, parmesan and starchy cooking water combine to create the creamiest of sauces.

10 Minute Spaghetti Carbonara

Ingredients (per person – scale up depending on how many you’re cooking for )

Thank you to Microplane, a brand I know and love, for working with More Than Toast :)

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I love Microplanes. Seriously the best kitchen tools as you say. I also use mine every day. Also brilliant that they can be popped in the dishwasher. My favourite Autumn/Winter dish has got to be Anjum Anand’s Indian take on Shepherd’s pie. It’s amazing and the microplane is brilliant for all the grating.

Favourite autumn recipe has to be steak and chorizo chilli, a Lisa Faulkner recipe I’ve been using for years, A Microplane set would definitely make all the grated garlic the recipe requires that much easier… : )